Knockdown counter fixture



Feb. 13, 1934.

M. T. JOHNSTON KNOCKDOWN COUNTER FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed M 5, 1932 Feb. 13, 1934. v JOHNSTON 11,946,533

KNOCKDOWN COUNTER FIXTURE Filed May 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MfiP/P/OT'T 7' JOHA/STON A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 13, 1934 KNOCKDOWN comma FIXTURE Marriott T. Johnston, Chicago, 111., assignor to Walgreen 00., Chicago, 111., a. corporation of Illinois Application May 5, 1932.

Claims.

This invention relates to counter structures and more particularly to sectional counters of the knock-down type.

It contemplates more especially the provision of complemental sections capable of ready association and disassociation to provide counters of variable dimensions and extent.

Counters are generally employed as necessary fixtures in stores merchandising soft drinks, sandwich luncheons and a variety of commodities that are generally available in drug stores and similar enterprises. Known types of counters have not proven satisfactory from the in- .stallation and removal standpoint, since these 'are usually built for individual stores to meet the particular dimensional requirements thereof.

Stores vary in size and layout so that it proves very difficult to adapt a standard counter structure for different situations and stores owing to the great variations in the dimensional extent and requirements thereof. Special counters are exceedingly expensive, and prove more or less useless should there be a necessity for dismantling or removal for use in other stores, situations or locations, requiring a different layout and possessing different dimensional areas.

This has proven very expensive in chain store operation, since there is often a requirement for changing locations of stores so that the removal of fixtures from one for utilization in another would be possible and involve nothing other than nominal installation expense. Then, too, the cost of manufacturing standard units on a pro- ,duction basis is considerably less than building fixtures of special design and dimensional extent for different situations. Standardization in fixtures to enable interchangeability and the extension thereof by duplication of units or addition of similar units is of substantial significance -and importance to economically meet modern commercial requirements in retail stores.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction andimprove the usefulness of fixtures of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide novel sectional counter units capable of ready assembly into counter fixtures of varying size and dimensional extent.

Still another object is to provide simple and effective means for maintaining sectional counter units in aligned connected relation.

A further object is to provide standard counter units of novel construction entailing minimum installation and maintenance expense.

- A still further object is to provide a. counter Serial No. 609,533

with detachably associated adjuncts such as a foot-rest serving to confine and conceal the plumbing for ready access to avail replacements and repair.

Still a further object is the provision of standard counter units capable of ready assembly and dismantling to enable the use thereof for different situations and store locations to meet varying requirements.

Other objects'and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view in elevation of a counter structure embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 isa front view in elevationof the counter disclosed in Figure 1 viewed substantially along line 11-11, parts thereof being broken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 3 is an end View in elevation of the counter disclosed in Figure l, the side board being shown detachably secured thereto.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear View of complemental sections showing the method of joinder.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIIVII of Figure l.

The structure selected for illustration com prises one or more frame members 10 of substantially rectangular configuration defined by angle irons of standard or approved construction. The frame members 10 have forwardly extending counter plate supports 11 joined thereto in any suitable manner, it being composed of a substantially rectangular frame formed from the angle irons 12 in horizontal alignment of the top edge 13 of the frame member 10 which is designed for vertically erect positioning and support as will appear more fully hereinafter. Cross members comprising angle irons 14 are attached to the frame members 12' to reinforce the structure and assist in the support of a counter plate 15 resting thereon. The counter plate 15 is preferably comprised of marble, vitrolite or other suitable 'materials and is attached to the projecting frame supports 12 by means of fasteners 16 to avoid displacement therefrom. The bottom edge 17 of the frame member 10 terminates in an angle iron l8'to reinforce the structure and effect the attachof heavy gauge metallic material is bent at right out entailing much labor or time.

ment thereof to the floor 19 by resort to the usual fasteners or anchoring expedients employed for that purpose. The erect position of the frame member 10 with its forwardly projecting counter plate support 12, does not depend entirely upon the flange 18 in that these structures are commonly employed with creamer sections and fountain tanks which serve as the anchoring expedient therefor. The frame members 10 are strapped to the creamer and fountain cabinets in any suitable manner and thus are maintained in the vertical position against any possible displacement.

The frame sections 10 may be of any desired height and length as commercial practice may dictate; however, it is proposed that the length thereof shall be determined by the end alignment of a multiple of units which are standard in length so as to enable the assembly into a counter meeting the requirements of the particular installation. The frame members 10 are concealed from view by means of panels 20 which preferably are of standard size for attachment to the angle irons defined in the frame members 10 through the medium of suitable fasteners 21 which preferably have the heads thereof countersunk in the panels 20 to render such unnoticeable. The panels 20 are preferably composed of fiber material having a thin aluminum surface which is adhesively applied thereto under pressure. This serves to impart a sanitary and attractive appearance to the exterior surface of the panels 20, and thus the frame members 10 are concealed from view. 7

A step riser 22 constituting an integral sheet angles along the longitudinal median line thereof to present normally disposed surfaces 23 and 24 terminating in flanges 25 and 26, respectively. The flange 25 serves as a connecting medium to the floor surface 19 and the flange 26 applied to the forward wall defined by the panels 20 which rest thereon, the flanges 26 being attached to the frame members 10 by means of fasteners 27. The vertical surface 23 of the riser 22 is covered with vitrolite 28 or other suitable surfacing material to rest upon the flange 25, thereby effecting the concealment thereof. The riser surface 24 is preferably covered with a surfacing slab of slate 29 to effect the total concealment of the riser 22 in conjunction with the vitrolite 28. The riser 22 serves to further stabilize the vertical frame members 10 and a protecting strip 30 of any suitable material such as Monel metal is attached to the vertical Walls just above the riser 22. The strip 30 is attached to the frame members 10 by means of brackets 81, and fasteners 32 project therethrough to effect the attachment to the panels 20. It is to be noted that the strip 30 rests on the slate surface 29 of the riser 22, thereby concealing the flanges and attaching expedients from View.

It is to be noted that the construction of the riser 22 is such as to enable the ready detachment thereof from the vertical frame members 10 with- The riser 22 preferably defines a space 33 therebeneath for the reception of plumbing 34 which leads to the creamery sections and the fountain dispensers customarily utilized in connection with a counter This is of great importance, since with counters of known construction the plumbing 34 usually was positioned rearwardly of the forward panels 10 beneath the creamery sections and fountain tanks, thereby precluding convenient access thereto. In fact, when plumbing repair or replacement was found necessary it was extremely costly and entailed a great deal of time to effect access thereto for that purpose. With applicants arrangement, the riser 22 is conveniently and very readily detached in order to render the plumbing 34 accessible without any undue labor or time requirements. It is far more convenient to repair or replace plumbing from a position forwardly of the frame members 10 than rearwardly as heretofore, and in consequence thereof the feature of providing the plumbing below the riser 22 specially constructed for that purpose, is of substantial importance in connection with counters.

It is to be noted that the unit thus far described may be extended to a unit of equal length by providing a similar frame section 10 of correspondingly rectangular configuration defined by angle irons of similar construction. A similar forwardly extending counter plate support 11 is joined thereto in any suitable manner, it being composed of a substantially rectangular frame formed from angle irons 12' in horizontal alignment of the top edge 13' of the frame member 10. Otherwise the structural features of the unit are similar to the one previously described and these are attached in end alignment by virtue of the rearwardly extending flanges 35 constituting a part of the angle irons 36 forming the frame members of sections 10 along the adjacent side edges thereof. The flanges 35 of the adjacent frame section 10' are provided with aligned apertures 37 through which a tubular collar 38 extends. The collars 38 are provided with a shoulder 39 designed to abut against one of the flanges 35 to limit the projection of the collar 38 through the apertures 37, the collar 38 having a length equivalent to the width of the adjacently contacting flanges 35. In consequence thereof, the collars 38 will align the units through the medium of the angle irons 36 and serve as a rigid connection therebetween.

To preclude the possible removal of the collars 38, a threaded machine screw 40 engages a correspondingly threaded bore of the collars 38 to abut against thesurface of the other flange 35 and cooperates with the collar shoulder 39 to effect a positive and detachable joinder between the contacting flanges 35 of adjacent frame sections 10 and 10'. Any number of aligning collars 38 may be resorted to along the side edges of the frame sections 10 and 10' depending upon the dictates and requirements of commercial practice, and it is apparent that any number of frame sections or units 10 and 10' may be end aligned to correspond with the dimensional extent of any particular area in a store which is desired for counter fixture utilization. The counter plates 15 as well as the horizontal strips 30 need only be substituted by a longer counter plate in order to afford concealment for the interstice between the units, and this serves to preclude any recognizable segregation therebetween. In such cases a single unit counter plate or top 15 is substituted by a double unit counter plate 16 similar in construction and thus a counter may be readily assembled to extend for any desired distance.

Where a multiple of frame members 10 and 10 are extended in end-alignment, the adjacent edges of the respective panels 20 and 20', may be concealed by a vertical plate or strip 41 which preferably corresponds in material and width with the bottom horizontal strip 30 to be of matching appearance. The vertical strips 41 are joined to the angle irons of the frame sections 10 and 10 by means of fasteners 42, and thus the entire counter is given the appearance of the single unit having desirable ornaments and trimmings on the front surface thereof for concealment of the interstices between the adjacent units. It is to be noted that half-sized counter units may be correspondingly produced and assembled so as to offer a better variation in length to meet the requirements of any particular dimensional area or store, thereby availing the use of the same counter units for different stores should it be necessary to change locations. The production of standard units of the character described is far less expensive than the cost of specially constructed counters, and assembly thereof entails far less time and labor.

Counters usually have an end board along the terminus thereof to conceal the view of the region rearwardly of the counter panels 20. To this end, the end board comprises confronting frame members 43 and 44 of substantially rectangular configuration defined by angle irons of standard or approved construction. These are maintained in spaced parallelism by virtue of top and bottom members 45 and 46 attached to the confronting frame members 43 and 44 to constitute a rigid and integral unit having its own vertical stability. The end board is attached to the edge of the frame member 10 by means of fasteners 46', and the forward surface thereof is provided with a panel 4'7 corresponding in appearance and attached thereto in a manner similar to the panels 20. A horizontal strip 48 is attached to the frame member 43 to constitute an extension of the strip 30 attached to the forward wall. Vitrolite or other surfacing members 49 extend beneath the horizontal strip 48 for attachment to the frame member 43 so as to conform in appearance to the vertical surface 28 of the riser 22. In fact, a vitrolite panel surface 49 extends to cover the end of the riser 22 so as to conceal the entire interior end region from view. Vertical strips 40 are attached to the edges of the frame 43 to correspond with the ornamentation offered by the strips 41 fixed to the forward surfaces or panels 20.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described Without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: V

1. In a knockdown counter, the combination with end skeleton frame members composed of angle iron aligned in a common plane, of means projecting through adjacent angle irons for effecting the end attachment of said frame members in multiple units to extend the plane thereof, a counter support rigidly fixed to the top edge of said frame members for substantial forward extension therefrom, and a riser constituting an integral step connected for detachable application tothe forward surface of said frame members to confine plumbing therebeneath and serve as a foot rest, and means for stabilizing said aligned frame members in an erect vertical plane.

2. In a multiple counter, the combination with a skeleton frame member unit extending in a single plane to comprise vertical and horizontal angle irons, a panel detachably secured to said frame, counter plate supports on said frame member for substantial forward extension therefrom, a foot riser detachably secured to said frame member along the bottom region thereof to confine plumbing therebeneath, another of said units in end-alignment with said first named unit, aligned apertures in adjacent angle irons of said aligned units, and collars extending through said aligned apertures for effecting a detachable joinder therebetween, and means for stabalizing said aligned plane members in an erect position.

3. In a multiple counter, the combination with a frame member unit extending in a single plane to comprise vertical and horizontal angle irons, a panel detachably secured to said frame, counter plate supports on said frame member for substantial forward extension therefrom, a foot riser detachably secured to said frame member along the bottom region thereof to confine plumbing therebeneath, another of said units in endalignment with said first named unit, aligned apertures in adjacent angle irons of said aligned units, collars extending through said aligned apertures, shoulders on one end of said collars to abut against a surface of said angle irons, and fasteners abutting against the opposite surface of the other of said angle irons in axial threaded engagement with said collars to preclude the removal thereof for effecting a detachable joinder therebetween.

4. In a multiple counter, the combination with a frame member unit comprising vertical and horizontal angle irons, a panel detachably secured tosaid angle irons to define an integral plane frame member, counter plate supports on said frame member for substantial forward extension therefrom, a foot riser detachably secured to said frame member along the bottom'region thereof to confine plumbing therebeneath, another of said units in end-alignment with said first named unit, aligned apertures in adjacent angle irons of said aligned units, and a side panel frame detachably connected to a frame member independent of said counter plate to serve as a stabalizing support for said frame members.

5. In a multiple counter, the combination with a frame member unit comprising vertical and horizontal angle irons, a panel detachably secured to said angle irons defining said frame, counter plate supports on said frame member for substantial forward extension therefrom, a foot riser detachably secured to said frame member along the bottom region thereof to confine plumbing therebeneath, another of said units in endalignment with said first named unit, aligned apertures in adjacent angle irons of said aligned units, and a side panel frame detachably connected to a frame member independent of said counter plate to serve as a stabalizing support for said aligned frame members.

MARRIOTT T. JOHNSTON. 

